Multicolored light source

ABSTRACT

A plurality of different frequency absorbing materials are placed between an LED and a surface so as to generate a non-monochromatic colors. In one embodiment, a light device is arranged with light sources, each of which emit light of a different color, and by surrounding the different colored light sources with a color changing media, each of which absorb light of different colors and by allowing the light sources to be individually calibrated as to power level, a variety of colors can be achieved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to light sources and more particularly to light sources that can selectively change color across a broad spectrum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are presently many uses for light sources that can change color. One popular light source is constructed from light emitting diodes (LEDs). One problem is that each LED can only emit light of a single color and usually these colors are monochromatic. Today, these colors are red, green, blue or amber. A multicolor light source could be built with combinations of LED chips (red, blue, green, amber) and then by selectively activating the chips, one of the colors could be achieved. Colors other than the individual chip color could be obtained by activating two or more different color chips at one time. This, however, will result in poor (uneven) color mixing.

Additional colors can be achieved by surrounding each LED chip with a color changing medium. For example, by using yellow phosphorus with a blue LED, the color white can be achieved. Phosphors are selected based upon their absorption and emission characteristics. Using this arrangement, a larger number of colors can be achieved, all of which fall on the border of the CIE diagram since they are all saturated colors. Saturated colors are normally produced by the diodes which emit a certain color or wavelength. If this color is not absorbed by the phosphor, a saturated color (generally) will result. Saturated colors can also be produced using the phosphor loading (max) depending on the color desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A plurality of different frequency absorbing materials are placed between an LED and a surface so as to generate non-monochromatic colors. In one embodiment, a light device is arranged with light sources, each of which emit light of a different color, and by surrounding the different colored light sources with a color changing media, each of which absorb light of different colors and by allowing the light sources to be individually calibrated as to power level, a variety of colors can be achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a multicolored light device having multiple LED chips;

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a control circuit for analyzing the circuit of FIG. 1 in a panel arrangement; and

FIG. 3 shows a CIE diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows device 10 having housing 11 with substrate 14. Within cavity 12 of housing 11, there resides a plurality of different colored LED chips, for example, chips 13-R1, 13-G1, 13-B1, 13-R2, 13-G2, and 13-B2. Some of these chips could be red (R), some green (G) or some blue (B) or they could be any other available colored chip. Note that while only two chips of each color (R, G, B) are shown, any combination of chips and any number of chips can be utilized.

Each of the chips is connected by bond wires 101 to controller 15. Controller 15, in conjunction with sensor 16, controls power to the various LED chips via wires 102. Sensor 16 measures, for example, the frequency of the light output and/or the intensity of the light and causes controller 15 to add or remove power or to modify other parameters, such as frequency.

Cavity 12 has contained therein incapsulant material 13 containing different colored phosphors, such as phosphors 17-1, 17-2, and 17-3. Some phosphors absorb certain colors and do not absorb other colors. The colors that are not absorbed are emitted as saturated colors. Some of the phosphors can convert the light to a different color, and these converted colors can mix with the saturated colors to obtain colors from within the CIE diagram as shown in FIG. 3 in the manner to be discussed hereinafter. The intensity of each LED can, if desired, be tuned by the controller so that the intensity of different colors or mixtures of colors can be tuned. Substrate 14 can be connected to a heatsink (not shown) to conduct heat away from the dies, if desired.

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of an arrangement for enabling the system of FIG. 1 in a panel arrangement. As shown, panel 20 includes substrate 24 having mounted thereon LED chips 23-1 to 23-N. These chips can be any combination of colors desired as discussed above operable under control of controller 15 and sensor 16 to achieve different colors, depending upon the intensity of the LED as compared to the different phosphors 22-1 to 22-N surrounding the LED chips. While FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate only a few instances of phosphor, this phosphor can be as dense as is necessary to produce the colors desired.

FIG. 3 illustrates a CIE chart showing different colors. Monochromatic colors are at the circumference of the chart (line 301) with white shown at the center. The letters on the chart show the blended colors. Thus G is green, B is blue and BG represents blue and green while gB is less green than blue.

The output color that a user would observe can be selected using the CIE chart of FIG. 3, for example, by selecting a diode color, and a plurality of phosphors to surround the selected diode. Each if the selected phosphors can then be weighted by efficiency and by absorption. For ease of discussion we can call that weighting a QE and express it as a percentage of phosphor.

By way of example, assume that an output color is desired that would fall within area 31 (the triangular area formed within broken lines 302, 303, 303). Using such an assumption, a UV blue diode in the range of perhaps 460 nm can be selected. Such a diode would fall at the cross of X coordinate 0.15 and Y coordinate 0.05 (0.15, 0.05).

A green phosphor could be selected that would fall at coordinate point 0.2, 7.5. By selecting a 15% QE for the selected phosphor, point 310 is known. Note that point 310 is an assumed point for purposes of this discussion. A red phosphor is also selected that falls at coordinate point 0.6, 3.5. Assume then that the 20% point falls at point 311. The triangle that is formed between line 302 (which connects the selected diode with the green selected phosphor) and line 303 (which connects the selected diode with the red selected phosphor and line 304 that connects the two phosphor percentage points now bounds the color that will be observed when the blue diode impacts the selected phosphors that are held in the encapsulate material as discussed with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. This then provides blended colors that are not otherwise attainable. By changing the power to the selected diode the resultant output color can change.

More than two phosphors can be selected using the scheme discussed herein. Also, more than one diode can be used and by selectively activating different LED chips, and by selectively changing LED chip power level in proximity to different phosphors, a user can select the ultimate color(s) of the device or display. Using this arrangement a full spectrum of colors can be achieved, both on the border of the CIE chart as well as in the center region.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. 

1. A light emitting diode comprising: a housing; at least one LED chip contained within said housing, said chip emitting light in a selected frequency; and an encapsulant surrounding said chip, said encapsulant having light frequency absorbing characteristics spread across multiple light frequencies.
 2. The light emitting diode of claim 1 wherein said encapsulant contains a plurality of different phosphors, some of said phosphors having light absorbing characteristics in a first range of light frequencies and some of said phosphors having light absorbing characteristics in a second range of light frequencies.
 3. The light emitting diode of claim 2 wherein the color of the light output of said diode is selectively controlled by changing the loading factor of said phosphors to obtain a particular desired color.
 4. The light emitting diode of claim 2 further comprising: a plurality of LED chips, each chip emitting light in a different frequency.
 5. A light source comprising: at least two LED chips, each chip operable for emitting light of a different frequency; and encapsulant material surrounding said chips, said encapsulant material designed to absorb and emit a plurality of frequencies of light as emitted from said chips.
 6. The light source of claim 5 wherein said encapsulate material comprises: at least two different phosphors each having selected absorption characteristics matched to the color of the desired output light of said light source.
 7. The light source of claim 6 wherein the loading factor for each phosphor is different.
 8. The light source of claim 6 further comprising: means for adjusting the output power of selected ones of said LED chips.
 9. The light source of claim 8 wherein said adjusting means is enabled based upon a reading of the actual output frequency of the light.
 10. A light device comprising: a plurality of light sources, each source emitting a different color light; means for absorbing certain frequencies so as to change the light from a first color to a converted color; and means for actively selecting one or more of said light sources to produce a desired output color selected from within the chromaticity diagram.
 11. The light device of claim 10 wherein said absorbing means comprises a plurality of different frequency absorbing materials.
 12. The light device of claim 10 wherein said selected colors are non-monochromatic colors other than white.
 13. The light device of claim 12 further comprising: means for adjusting the input voltage to selected ones of said light sources so as to achieve said desired non-monochromatic color output.
 14. The light source of claim 13 wherein said absorbing means is at least two different materials selected from the list of compounds comprising: CaS: Eu2+, Mn2+; SrS:Eu2+; (Zn,Cd)S:Ag; Mg4GeO5.5F:Mn4+; CaS:Ce3+; ZnS:Cu+; SrGa2S4:Eu2+; and YAG:Ce3+.
 15. A method of constructing an LED, said method comprising: determining at least one desired output color, said color having at least one frequency not directly emitted from an LED; selecting at least one LED chip having an emitted color other than said selected color; and placing a plurality of different frequency light absorption materials between said LED chip and a top surface of said LED.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: adding a plurality of LEDs constructed using said determining, said selecting and said placing on a substrate under a single cover to form a single display device.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising: adding a controller and a sensor to said display device so as to control the color output of said display device.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said frequency absorbing materials are selected from the list of: CaS: Eu2+, Mn2+; SrS:Eu2+; (Zn,Cd)S:Ag; Mg4GeO5.5F:Mn4+; CaS:Ce3+; ZnS:Cu+; SrGa2S4:Eu2+; and YAG:Ce3+.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said desired output color is non-monochromatic and non white.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said placing comprises selection of loading factors for each absorbing material. 